Cleaning implement



Oct. 10, 1933. w J NEELY 1,929,848

CLEANING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 21. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Gttornegs Oct. 10, 1933.

w. J. NEELY 1,929,848

CLEANING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bummer wallow/10 fflzeg md7 w/b (I Home? Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES CLEANING IMPLEMENT William J. Neely, Freeport, 111., assignor to The W. T. Rawleigh Company, Freeport, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 21, 1931 Serial No. 564,203

6 Claims. (01. 306-19) The present invention relates to improvements in cleaning implements, such as brushes, mops, etc., and particularly to an improved form of connector for uniting such an implement with and supporting it from a suitable handle.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive connector, whereby a single handle may be employed with any of a plurality of cleaning means, i. e., brushes, mops, etc., and it consists in the particular construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, there are'illustrated two embodimentsv of the invention, but it will be understood that there can be modification and change in detail in several particulars, and that except where specifically defined in the appended claims, the invention is not to be understood as being limited to either of the exact forms shown.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective of an embodiment of the invention showing the same employed to support a brush of a well known type;

Figure 2 is a' longitudinal sectional view;

Figure 3 is a plan of the improved connector showing a portion of the brush frame in section;

Figure 4 is a sectional view substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective illustrating the invention employed for connecting a mop with a suitable handle, and presenting a slightly modified form of connection;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section;

Figure 7 is a plan; and

Figure 8 is a transverse section substantially on the line 88 of Figure '7.

Referring to the drawings, in theseveral views of which like parts are designated by the same reference character, the improved connector comprises a member 1 which may be of either cast or sheet metal, and which is formed to provide a socket adapted to receive a suitable handle 2.

The handle 2 may be secured in the socket of the member 1 by any suitable fastening means such as screws 3.

The socket member shown is formed from a suitable piece of sheet metal and opposite walls 4, 5 thereof are collapsed or flattened to provide a web-like portion at one end of the handle recelving socket. 1

Through the substantially triangular shaped space 6 at the inner end of, the handle socket extends the bowed end 7 of a substantially U- shaped member formed of a suitable rod or' heavy wire the arms or sides 8 of which extend some distance from the socket member and, as shown, have their free ends 9 bent outwardly or laterally so that they are adapted to enter suitably op- .are received.

posed sockets'providecl to receive them item? frame or body of the cleaning-implement.

As shown in Figure 1, the frame of the cleaning brush 10 includes a core 11, of twisted wire and the ends of which are. suitably secured in a 5 head 12. The bristles of the brush form a head or body which is shown as being of substantially circular form in cross section.

r The head 12may be a casting or be formedof sheet metal bent and shaped to provide the necessary sockets and recesses to receive the wire core 11 and the aligned, opposed, sockets to receive the lateral projections 9' at the ends of the arms 8 of the connector.

. Means are provided whereby the members 8 of .7

the connector maybe separated or forced laterally relative to each other. to effect close-engage 'ment of the ends 9 with the sockets in'the head The end of 9% ure 1, the opposite edges thereof will bear against e9 the members 8 and forcibly separate 'the same forcing-the projections 9 at the free ends thereof laterally into close engagement with the bearings in the implement cleaning head 12 in which they When the finger 15 has been turned in this .7 manner, the parts will be effectually locked in the desired position and a firm connection provided between the handle 2 and the cleaning implement.

ken by turning the finger 15 into the position ilprojections 9 at the free ends of said arms' to be Such connection, however, can be readily bro- .t-

easily withdrawn from the sockets in the clean-. 1

ing implement head and permit another implement tobe substituted.

As shown in Figure 4, the bent end of the spreading finger 15 which extends betweenthe members 8 may be provided in its opposite edges with grooves or recesses 20 which will receive the members 8 when turned into the full line position shown in the drawings. e 3

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated 1 in Figures 5 to 8 the resilient orspring arms, 21,

22 are connected with thehandle receiving member 1 as before described and said resilient arms are provided at their free ends with laterally bent portions 23 adapted to be received in suitable, op-

posed. socketed bosses provided in the frame of the cleaning implement. V

In this embodiment of the invention, the implement shown is a mop having a frame including a twisted wire core 24 and a U-shaped tubular member 25, the opposite limbs of which are provided with sockets to receive the bent ends '23 of the connector arms.

As shown in these figures, one of the spring rods 22, is provided at an intermediate point of its length with a slightly deflected section and such section and the opposite portion of the:rod 21 are engaged by a bent end portioniil 'ofa spreading element or link 32 which isnpivotally 16 connected at 33 to a finger 34. The finger 34 is pivotallymountcd as at 35 on the handle receiving member.

A lugifiextending outward from one edge of I p the finger34 is adapted to bearv against a side: of 20 the link 3fl-andrwherr the parts are positioned. so that thepivots Sli, 33 are in substantial longitudinal alignment, the link will be moved lengthwise of the arms 21, 22 and said arms will be forced mrtso-that the bent end portions 23- will be se- '25-curelyreate'd inithe sockets in theimplement A relatively slight turning movement ofzthe finger u will act to-movatha spreader 31'from the full line position shown-ini-Figure'l to that 30 represented in dotted lines which will result in the arms 21,72assurning the positionshown in dotted Iines'in Fig'ure-T, in which the bent ends 23 are practically withdrawn from the hearings in 1th implement frame.

ItAs believed that .thevmanner of use and, the advantages ot the invention: will be readily appreelated from the foregoingdescription in' connection with the drawings. g ;It; will :be seen that, I. havezprovided a ivery simpleflnexpensiverand. durablemeans for con a: cleaning implement withasuitable. handle which1nizl.yi.'beeasily applied/to or detached ,frcmtthe brush, mop, etc.,-sothata single handle U mambeemployed iii-connection withv a: relatively 5 lcrgermnnbwof different cleaners A very slizhtmovement of the-operating: finger serve toexpand :or positivelymarate the. re-

rods attached to the handle socket so'that they willbc securely enzaeedwiththerrameor 0 head of the cleaning brush. l

It willabe evident that either of the: two forms I illustrated i may beemployed with various: types of cleaning. implementsv Preferably the form 'of fremefor the: cleaning: implement shown in Fig- 5 .ures-1'to-=4, -is employedin connection with .wet

mopazwindowbrushes, wallbrushes, etc., while mg -member projecting therefrom toward the free endsof "said arms, and a finger pivotally mounted on-"said lug'and' having an end project- 2. A handle fastening device for a cleaning imtu'dinally thereof'by turning 'movement of the finger.

ing" between said arms and adapted as the finger is turned to positively separate the arms and hold them'in engagement with the cleaning implement frame.

plement comprising a member adapted. to be secured to a handle, two arms connected at one end to. said member and the other ends of which are adapted to enter opposed bearings on the frame of the cleaning implement, a lug on the member extending therefrom in the direction of the .lengthof said arms, and a finger pivotally mounted on said lug and having one end bent laterally and extending between said arms, whereby as the finger is turned about its pivot, the arms will be forcibly separatedfand held in engagementwith the hearings on the frame of the cleaning implement. 1 1

3. A handle fastening device for acleam'ng implement comprising a member adapted to be secured to-a handle, two. arms connected at one end to said member. and the. other: ends of which are adapted to enter opposedbearings on the frame-oi the cleaning implement, afingerpivotally mounted on the member, and. a spreading element connected to said fingerand having'at one end a bent portion which: is adapted to positively separate the arms, as it is :-moved longi- 4. A handle fastening device fora clea ning implement comprising a member adapted to be secured to a handle, two'arms conn'eotedat one end-to said member and adapted to have their free ends engaged with the frame of the cleaning implement, and means for-spreading said arms to retain the free ends thereof in lockingengage- 'ment with the cleaning implement, said means including a longitudinally extending spreading and lockingelement carried by said member and havingan angularlybent end portion positioned {between said arms and adapted topositively separate and hold them in engagement-with the cleaning implement upon actuationjthereof.

'5. A handle fastening device for a cleaning V implement comprisinga'member adapted to be ends thereof in the hearings on the implement including a spreading element having a portion slidable between said 'armsand engageable with said hump.

6. A handle fastening device for a cleaning implement comprising a member adapted 'to'be secured toa handle, two arms connected at one end'to said member and adapted to have their free ends enter opposed bearings on the frame of the cleaning implement, a finger pivoted adjacent one end thereof on said member, and a "spreading element having one end thereof pivotal-ly connected to said finger intermediatelthe ends of said finger and having its'other end engageable with the arms to positively spread them upon actuation of the finger and spreading element.

WILLIAM J. N EL'Y. 

